With the continuous advancement of technology and the increasing demand for personalization from consumers, the design of water cooling heads is also constantly evolving. From the initially monotonous single light effect to the later ARGB lighting effects, and now to the intelligent designs integrated with display screens, the cooling heads have not only become more colorful and dazzling in appearance, but also significantly enhanced in functionality and interactivity. Nowadays, more and more water cooling products are beginning to integrate display screens. Not long ago, Deepcool launched the MYSTIQUE 360 AIO liquid cooler, which is an all-in-one water cooling radiator integrated with a high-resolution display screen. Compared to ordinary products, it features a larger 2.8-inch screen and a higher resolution of 640x480. So, how does this product perform specifically in terms of screen features and cooling performance? We will reveal it right away.

Product Specifications:

Water Pump Speed: 3400 RPM ±10%

Cooling Head Dimensions: 93mm × 77mm × 66mm

Radiator Dimensions: 402mm × 120mm × 27mm

Radiator Material: Aluminum

Tube Length: 410mm

Fan Dimensions: 120mm × 120mm × 25mm

Fan Speed: 600~2400 RPM

Fan Air Pressure: 3.48mmH2O (Maximum)Fan airflow: 72.04 CFM (maximum)

Fan noise: ≤38.71 dB(A)

Bearing type: Hydro Bearing

Compatible platforms: Intel LGA1700/1200/115x

AMD AM5/AM4

Screen size: 2.83 inches

Resolution: 640x480

Screen type: TFT LCD

Warranty period: 5 years

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Reference price: 999 yuanEquipped with a larger 2.8-inch display screen

Consumers familiar with Deepcool are well aware that the company has been incorporating digital display features in many of its products even before the launch of its Ice Blast series. Examples include its Wind Cold Xuanying 400, Big Frost Tower, Ice Cube, and Ice Fortress 360 digital display editions. Digital displays allow for a direct view of processor load and other information. Now, for users with higher demands, the screen-display version of the Ice Blast series is available, offering both 240mm and 360mm versions with cooling capacities of 280W and 300W, respectively. Additionally, the Ice Blast series has introduced an ARGB version, giving users more options to choose from.

In the past, liquid coolers with display screens were priced on the higher end, especially those with displays larger than 2.5 inches, which were typically found only in products costing over a thousand yuan. Now, with the Deepcool Ice Blast 360 ARGB featuring a 2.8-inch display, players can enjoy the fun of a screen-equipped liquid cooler for less than a thousand yuan. The Ice Blast 360 ARGB utilizes a 2.8-inch TFT LCD display, which has a faster response time. Coupled with the relatively lower cost of TFT screens, especially when applied to liquid coolers where display performance requirements are not high, it reduces the production costs for manufacturers and the purchase costs for users, making it a win-win choice. Moreover, the display resolution of the Ice Blast 360 ARGB is 640x480, which is more refined compared to the 320x240 resolution found in many similar products on the market, allowing for clear presentation of static and dynamic images and text.

The 2.8-inch display of the Ice Blast 360 ARGB not only enhances the product's class but also provides users with a better interactive experience. Through this display, users can showcase custom images and text according to their preferences, such as displaying some creative and personalized images.

To display personalized content on the screen, users need to visit Deepcool's official website and download the "Ice Blast series control software" from the "Service & Support" - "Software Download Center" (). Once the cold head is correctly connected to the PC, the software's main interface will recognize the Ice Blast 360 ARGB. The software interface is simple and clear, with three icons on the left side; the top two can be opened to view the load information of the processor/GPU/memory and system information. Below that is the cold head display customization icon, which allows for detailed settings of various functions on the cold head's screen.

Sometimes, after installing a liquid cooler, we might encounter an awkward issue: upon powering up the cold head, we find that the displayed image is reversed. Different manufacturers have different solutions to this problem. Many manufacturers adjust the image angle through software, while some integrate a gyroscope within the cold head to automatically detect the direction. From a user experience perspective, the latter is better, but from a manufacturer's standpoint, adding a gyroscope would increase costs. Deepcool has chosen the latter approach, allowing for automatic direction adjustment without manual intervention by the user. It should be noted that the software currently does not support direct adjustment of the fan's RGB lighting effects and fan speed modes; it only allows for the selection of whether to synchronize the RGB lighting with the motherboard. Its fan lighting effects and cold head lighting effects are compatible with the lighting control of mainstream motherboards, allowing users to unify the lighting effects through the motherboard's software, creating a cohesive lighting experience.The software supports three modes: Scenario Mode, Dynamic Mode, and Dashcam Mode. In the Dynamic Mode, users can upload both static and dynamic images. Static images can be set to cycle every 3, 5, or 7 seconds, and users can choose to display them individually or with sliding or fade-in/fade-out effects. The software supports uploading dynamic images up to 20MB in size. Unlike some other screen-equipped water coolers, the Ice Storm 360 ARGB can still display normally on the screen even after the software is exited, whereas some other screen-equipped water coolers require the accompanying software to run in the background to display.

Equipped with a self-developed 5th generation high-performance water pump

What is the core of a water cooling radiator? The answer is the water pump. The performance of the water pump directly affects the overall performance of the radiator. Currently, there are two approaches for radiator manufacturers: one is to adopt a third-party water pump solution, such as the widely used Asetek 8th generation water pump. This approach, which uses a third-party supplier's water pump, has a cost advantage and a shorter product development cycle. Unlike many radiator manufacturers who directly purchase and use third-party water pump solutions, Deepcool has chosen to develop its own. Compared to using third-party water pump solutions, self-development has a longer cycle and higher research and development costs, but it allows for the mastery of core technology.

The Ice Storm 360 ARGB, like the Deepcool Ice Fortress 360 Digital Edition we have previously experienced, is equipped with Deepcool's self-developed 5th generation high-performance water pump. This pump supports PWM speed control, with a maximum speed of 3400RPM ±10%. It features a 3-phase 6-slot 4-pole motor, which can enhance water flow speed and lift with high rotation speed. In addition, it is equipped with ceramic bearings and shaft cores, as well as an upgraded 0.1mm ultra-dense sunken fin water channel, providing better performance in terms of quietness and performance. According to official data, the cooling capacity is on average 3°C lower than the previous generation, achieving a thermal power of 300W. Moreover, the noise of the water pump is minimal, at just 21dB(A).

Furthermore, the bottom of the cold head features a large area 54mm × 54mm square copper base, which can better conform to the processor surface, enhancing heat conduction and improving cooling efficiency. It is worth mentioning that the cold head of the Ice Storm 360 ARGB comes pre-applied with thermal conductive paste, allowing users to use it directly after removing the base protective cover. However, it does not provide additional thermal paste, so users will need to purchase it separately if reinstallation is required.At the same time, the Ice Storm 360 ARGB's cold head dimensions are 93mm × 77mm × 66mm, and there is no need to worry about compatibility issues when installing. The design of the Ice Storm 360 ARGB's cold head adopts a square shape and features a beveled edge on the top frame, which is very exquisite. Additionally, there is an ARGB light strip hidden below the beveled edge that can be synchronized with the motherboard's lighting effects. By the way, there are relatively more wires in the cold head part, including a USB communication connector for the motherboard, a SATA lighting power supply connector, a 3Pin water pump power supply connector, and a 5V@3Pin lighting effect synchronization connector.

No need to install fans, and they can be daisy-chained

When installing a liquid cooling radiator, it is necessary to install the cold plate and fans at the same time. Traditional liquid cooling radiators require the separate installation of multiple fans, and fans with RGB lighting effects also need to connect power cables and lighting synchronization cables, which can be very cumbersome and messy. Considering the needs of users, Ice Storm 360 ARGB has pre-installed all the fans on the cold plate at the factory, and the fans are connected in series through wires, with only one wire and two connectors leading out in the end. One of them is a 5V@3Pin lighting effect connector, and the other is a 4Pin power supply connector. This simple installation method not only removes redundant wires, making the case wiring neater, but also saves users a lot of time in assembling the machine. The cold head part only needs to connect the cold head water pump power supply connector and the USB connector, and the overall wiring is very simple.

The radiator is equipped with three 120mm ARGB fans, specifically the model "FD12ARGB". This fan has optimized the shape and structure of the impeller, and the new aerodynamic structure used can bring a stable low-noise performance across the full speed range. Each fan is equipped with six second-generation ARGB light beads, supporting 5V ARGB lighting synchronization for ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, ASROCK, RAZER, and others. The fan speed range is between 600RPM and 2400RPM, and at the highest speed, it can provide a maximum wind pressure of 3.48mmH2O and a maximum air volume of 72.04CFM. The fans are equipped with Hydro Bearing (hydraulic) bearings, which are better than ordinary ball bearings in terms of noise suppression and service life. The official noise level of the fans is less than or equal to 38.71dB(A), and we will test the noise level at high speeds later.

The Ice Storm 360 ARGB's cold plate uses high-density low-water-resistance Z-shaped heat dissipation fins, a design that greatly improves heat dissipation efficiency. Compared to traditional radiators, the thickness of Ice Storm 360 ARGB's fins reaches 27mm, which not only expands the radiator's water storage capacity but also increases the heat dissipation area, effectively reducing the temperature of the computer. The cold plate with low water resistance design can quickly transfer heat to the fins and dissipate it through air flow, making the cooling effect more outstanding.

It is worth mentioning that Ice Storm 360 ARGB has also added a black technology called "Anti-Leak" dynamic balance pressure relief on one end of the cold plate. It increases a pressure relief bag inside the cold plate, changing the volume of the coolant through pressure difference, so that the increased internal pressure can be released, allowing the water cooling system to run more safely and stably, and thus extending its service life. In addition, it has also added an EPDM specification safety valve to ensure more stable use over a long period.The water pipe connecting the cold plate to the cold head measures 410mm in length, which is considered a longer specification in water cooling radiators. Typically, most water cooling hoses are less than 400mm, yet this length can accommodate the installation requirements for various mainstream ATX and even E-ATX cases. The hose is made of IIR material with nylon fiber braiding, offering excellent elasticity and fatigue resistance, providing a soft and comfortable touch. Additionally, the hose comes equipped with two Velcro straps to keep the hose more organized.

Easy Installation for Mainstream Platforms

For many "clumsy" users, installing a radiator can be a nightmare. They often encounter various issues, such as unstable installation leading to poor heat dissipation. To address this, many radiator manufacturers have improved the installation methods, simplifying the steps and reducing the complexity for users.

We tested the installation experience of the Ice Storm 360 ARGB on a platform with main hardware components including the Intel Core i7-14700K processor, ROG Z790 DARK HERO motherboard, Galaxy HOF EXTREME D5-7200 memory, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D graphics card. Taking my use of the Intel LGA1700 platform as an example, installation only requires attaching the base plate (with pre-installed screws), then securing the stand-offs with rubber gaskets (note that there are gaskets for LGA1700 and LGA1200, so use the appropriate ones for your platform). The cold head also requires the installation of Intel's retention mechanism, and finally, secure the cold head to the stand-offs and tighten the nuts. For the AMD AM5 platform, the installation is even simpler: just replace the original base on the motherboard, change the cold head retention mechanism, and secure it. The Ice Storm 360 ARGB is compatible with current mainstream mid-to-high-end platforms, such as Intel's LGA1700/1200/115X; AMD's AM4/AM5. Additionally, the included accessory package is labeled for different platforms, making it easy for users to quickly find the correct retention mechanism.

Unleashing Nearly 300W TDP from the Core i7-14700K at 5.5GHz

Next, we tested the cooling performance of the Ice Storm 360 ARGB. I first reset the motherboard to default settings and unlocked the processor's turbo frequency limits. Then, I maximized the speeds of the cooling fans and water pump using FanControl software. Finally, I conducted a single-burn FPU test on the processor with AIDA64 System Stability Test, running for over 30 minutes, and monitored temperature and power changes with HWiNFO software.

After 30 minutes of testing, the processor's voltage reached 1.28V under default settings, with all performance cores running at 5.5GHz turbo frequency and efficiency cores at 4.3GHz. I observed that the processor's package power consumption reached 294W. The highest temperature of the performance cores, as seen with HWiNFO, stabilized around 98°C (ambient temperature was approximately 26°C), with an average temperature of 92°C across all performance cores and a temperature rise of 66°C. This performance is impressive. There are not many all-in-one water coolers under a thousand dollars that can suppress a Core i7-14700K at 5.5GHz and 1.28V high frequency and voltage without thermal throttling.

Additionally, as the processor reached full load and the radiator fans and water pump speeds were maximized, the "roar" of the fans was clearly audible. I noticed that the FanControl software monitored the cold plate fan speed at around 2360RPM and the water pump speed at approximately 3333RPM. However, there was no noise from the cold head's water pump, and the speeds were almost consistent with the nominal values. With three fans running at full speed, the noise they produced was somewhat noticeable. I measured the noise level about 30cm away from the fans with a decibel meter, and with an ambient noise of about 45dB(A), the fan noise was around 50dB(A), which is lower than that of similar products. Moreover, our testing was conducted in an open platform; if the Ice Storm 360 ARGB were installed in an enclosed case, and with the added distance, the noise we could hear would be even lower.Provides a 5-year warranty and a 5-year leak compensation service

No water cooling radiator brand can guarantee 100% that their products will not leak. Due to the working principle and complex structure of water cooling radiators, leakage is a potential risk. In the event of a leak, the importance of after-sales service becomes particularly significant. In this regard, the Deepcool Ice Blast 360 ARGB offers a 5-year warranty for all components. Additionally, it provides a 5-year leak compensation service, with 100% compensation in the first year, 85% in the second year, 75% in the third year, 65% in the fourth year, and 60% in the fifth year.

In conclusion,

Overall, the Deepcool Ice Blast 360 ARGB and the Ice Fortress 360 Digital Display are very close in terms of specifications and performance. They both use the same cold plate, fans, and water pump. The difference is that the Ice Blast 360 ARGB is equipped with a 2.8-inch display screen. Its resolution is higher than that of similar products, reaching 640x480, and the display effect is more delicate. At the same time, it is equipped with ARGB, which provides a better choice for users who like gorgeous lighting effects. If you don't like lighting effects, there is also a version without lighting effects available at a lower price. In terms of performance, the Deepcool Ice Blast 360 ARGB can meet the daily high-load cooling needs of flagship processors, with a power consumption of 300W. Whether it is running high-intensity games or handling complex multitasking, this radiator can provide sufficient cooling performance for the processor. In addition to its excellent performance and design, the Deepcool Ice Blast 360 ARGB also offers a long warranty of up to 5 years and a 5-year leak compensation service, which can bring users a worry-free experience.